Published on October 03, 2005

Thai Fed Cup doubles specialist Napaporn Tongsalee pulled off the biggest upset of her career with a semi-final win over world No 79 Amy Frazier of the United States in the US$50,000 Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital Tennis Classic in Ashland, Oregon, on Saturday. The unseeded Thai eliminated the top seeded American in straight sets 6-3 6-4 to reach her first final in a $50,000 tournament, becoming the third Thai woman in history to achieve such a feat.

The other two Thais to make finals of a $50,000 level event were Tamarine Tanasugarn and Suchanan Viratprasert. Suchanan reached her final in Beijing last year only to finish as runner-up.

Napaporn, 25, is bidding to become only the second Thai woman to win a $50,000 or more event. Only Tamarine has done better, winning a WTA title worth $140,000 in Hyderabad, India, in 2003.

On her way to the final, the Thai No 4 – the main force in doubles in Thailand’s Fed Cup team – defeated three top 100 players. She ousted former world No 47 Maureen Drake of Canada 6-3 6-4 in the first round, then she added another scalp to her collection with a surprise 6-1 6-1 win over American seventh-seed Lilia Osterloh, a former No 41 in round two. Frazier was her third victim.

In the final scheduled for late last night (Bangkok time), Napaporn, ranked 302 in the world, was to play second-seeded Puerto Rican Kristina Brandi, ranked 200 places above the Thai.

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